The moment this bread bakes, your kitchen fills with that warm, sweet smell of vanilla and cinnamon — it’s like a hug in bread form. This Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe is the perfect slice of holiday cheer, sparkling with colorful sprinkles and wrapped in a soft, tender crumb that everyone will love.

A rectangular white plate holds a sliced loaf cake with three visible slices fanned out in front of the remaining loaf, each slice showing a light beige cake speckled with red and green spots inside. The cake is topped with a smooth white icing layer that drips slightly over the edges, decorated with red, green, and white round and rod-shaped sprinkles. Behind the cake, a clear glass filled with milk shows a white and green striped straw. All items rest on a red cloth on a white marbled surface, with some sprinkles scattered around the plate. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This recipe has won me over completely with how effortlessly it brings festive vibes right to your breakfast table or holiday dessert spread. It’s approachable, fun, and downright delicious — and I can’t wait for you to enjoy it as much as I do.

Bright and Cheerful: The sprinkles add a joyful pop of color that instantly lifts your spirits and makes slicing this bread seriously satisfying.
Simple Ingredients: You probably have everything in your pantry, meaning you can bake this delightful loaf without a special trip to the store.
Perfect Texture: Thanks to the sour cream and milk, this bread stays tender and moist, not dry or crumbly.
Versatile and Fun: Whether for holiday morning toast or an afternoon snack, it’s equally at home and always a hit.

A rectangular cake lies on a white cutting board with a handle on the top left side, covered with smooth white frosting. The frosting is sprinkled evenly with small red, green, and white candy sprinkles in various shapes, adding bright color across the cake surface. The cake edges peek out slightly underneath the frosting, showing a brown color. A red cloth is underneath the board on a white marbled surface, adding warmth to the scene. Near the cake, there is a glass bottle filled with milk tied with a simple string, and two paper straws, one with green and white zigzag stripes and the other with red and white stripes, lie on the marble surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe plays an important role in creating that irresistible flavor, texture, and festive touch. Here’s why I love these components and a few little tips when shopping for them.

Flat lay of a small mound of unsalted butter, a white ceramic bowl of granulated sugar, a small white bowl with translucent vanilla extract, three whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white bowl of thick sour cream, a small white bowl filled with whole milk, a neat pile of all-purpose flour, a small mound of baking powder powder, a pinch of baking soda powder, a small heap of salt crystals, a sprinkle of ground cinnamon powder, a small white bowl heaped with colorful Christmas sprinkles, a small white bowl of powdered sugar, a small white bowl with heavy cream, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted Butter: Softened but not melted butter gives the bread richness and a tender crumb. I always use unsalted so I can control the salt level perfectly.
Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness that balances the spices and makes the sprinkles’ colors pop inside the batter.
Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla gives warmth and depth — never skip this, even in festive breads!
Eggs: Bind the ingredients and help the bread rise with a lovely structure.
Sour Cream: This is the secret to super moist, soft bread. It adds a subtle tang that complements the sweetness beautifully.
Whole Milk: Helps loosen the batter just enough for a tender crumb without weighing it down.
All-Purpose Flour: The base for your bread — makes it sturdy but soft when combined with the rest.
Baking Powder & Baking Soda: The dynamic duo that helps your bread rise nicely and become fluffy.
Salt: Boosts the flavors so the sweetness and vanilla don’t get lost.
Ground Cinnamon: Adds cozy holiday warmth — don’t skip or reduce it too much!
Christmas Sprinkles: Use festive nonpareils or jimmies — they hold their sprinkle shape best without bleeding too much.
Powdered Sugar (for icing): Creates a smooth, sweet glaze that's easy to drizzle.
Heavy Cream: Keeps the icing silky and creamy rather than thick and clumpy.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love experimenting a little, so I encourage you to make this recipe your own — whether you swap sprinkles, add nuts, or tweak the spices. It’s all about spreading festive joy your way!

Variation: One year I tossed in some chopped pecans alongside the sprinkles — they added a nice crunch and extra cozy flavor without overpowering the sweet bread.
Dietary Swap: If you’re avoiding dairy, try using a plant-based yogurt instead of sour cream and a non-dairy milk. I haven’t tried this yet but would love to hear how it works for you.
Spice Twist: Try adding a teaspoon of nutmeg or clove to the cinnamon for an extra spark of holiday warmth.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe

Step 1: Cream Butter and Sugar Until Fluffy

I start by softening the unsalted butter just enough so it’s easy to mix but not melted. Then I beat it together with the granulated sugar using my hand mixer. This step’s key because you want the mixture light and fluffy — that’s where a lot of your bread’s tenderness starts.

Step 2: Blend Wet Ingredients

Next, I add in the eggs one at a time to keep them well incorporated, followed by the vanilla extract. After everything’s mixed, I gently stir in the sour cream and whole milk. Mixing just until combined here keeps the batter light and airy.

Step 3: Whisk Dry Ingredients Then Combine

In a separate bowl, I whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon so everything’s evenly distributed. I slowly fold the dry mix into the wet ingredients, stirring gently until no streaks of flour remain. This prevents overmixing, which can make bread tough.

Step 4: Fold in the Sprinkles Carefully

This step requires a little love. I fold in the Christmas sprinkles gently, just enough to spread them throughout the batter. Overmixing here will cause the colors to bleed, which I want to avoid — that’s the magic of those perfectly speckled slices.

Step 5: Bake and Cool

I pour the batter into a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan and bake it at 350°F for about 60 to 70 minutes. I start checking around 55 minutes — a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs. If the top starts browning too fast, I tent it with foil halfway through baking. Once out of the oven, I let it cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 6: Whisk the Icing and Add a Festive Finish

While the bread cools, I whisk together powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla to make a smooth glaze. Then I spread it over the cooled loaf with a spatula and sprinkle extra Christmas sprinkles on top. This final touch really makes it sparkle and adds that perfect sweet crunch.

Top Tip

From baking this Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe a dozen times, I’ve learned a few little secrets that make all the difference in how it turns out — and I want you to have the best success!

Proper Butter Softening: Too soft and buttery batter can be greasy; just let the butter sit at room temp for 30-45 minutes or until you can press it with your finger and it leaves a slight indent.
Don’t Overmix Sprinkles: Gently fold in your sprinkles at the end to keep their vibrant colors bright and avoid them bleeding into the batter.
Foil Tent Trick: If the top browns too fast, covering with foil halfway through baking keeps it from burning while the middle finishes cooking.
Cool Completely Before Icing: Icing warm bread melts and can get runny, making a mess — patience here pays off with prettier slices!

How to Serve Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe

Festive Christmas Bread - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love adding a sprinkle or two more of colorful Christmas sprinkles after glazing for that extra festive sparkle. Sometimes, a light dusting of powdered sugar adds a snowy, magical look. If I’m feeling extra, a few edible glitter flakes make it sparkle under holiday lights.

Side Dishes

This bread pairs perfectly with a cup of hot cocoa or spiced coffee, making it a cozy holiday breakfast. It’s also wonderful alongside a bowl of fresh berries or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a simple festive dessert.

Creative Ways to Present

For gatherings, I’ve presented slices stacked with layers of whipped cream between, almost like a festive bread cake. Another fun way is slicing thicker and serving with little condiment bowls of different jams and butters so everyone can customize their bites.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftovers tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. This keeps the bread soft and the glaze intact without drying out or getting soggy.

Freezing

Freeze slices individually wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in a zip-top bag for up to 2 months. When you’re ready, thaw them at room temperature or toast frozen slices gently to refresh that fresh-baked feel.

Reheating

I find reheating in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes softens the bread nicely without melting the icing too much. A quick zap in the microwave works too but keep an eye on it as the bread can dry out fast.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use different sprinkles for this bread?

Absolutely! Just be sure to use sturdy, non-chocolate sprinkles like jimmies or nonpareils because softer sprinkles like edible glitter or chocolate might melt or bleed into the batter.

What if my bread is browning too quickly?

If you notice the top is getting too brown before the center is done baking, simply cover it loosely with a piece of foil to prevent further browning and continue baking. This foil tent is a helpful trick I use every time.

Can I make this bread dairy-free?

You can try swapping the sour cream for a plant-based yogurt and using a non-dairy milk like almond or oat milk. I haven’t tried it myself but this usually works well in quick bread recipes.

How do I store leftover festive sprinkle bread?

Store leftover bread wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze slices individually wrapped to retain freshness.

Final Thoughts

This Festive Christmas Sprinkle Bread Recipe holds a special place on my holiday table because it’s as joyful to make as it is to eat. I love the way those sprinkles peek out with every slice, and how it brings the whole family together over sweet bites and shared smiles. Give this recipe a go — I promise it'll become a new tradition you'll look forward to each year!